Penelope's Kindergarden Ceremony

Our Penelope is on her way to first grade! She has loved school and hated homework, done well in her classwork and was called her teacher's "go-to gal" because she was always ready to help.

The kinder classes put on a cute program that can't be called a "graduation" anymore which is fine by me. Penelope earned Principals List, which is all A's plus good behavior.

Kid Quotes

If Henry wants you to stop walking or stop doing something he says "PAUSE!" 

The kids used their Easter money and allowance to buy these huge pillows that have storage inside them for a matching blanket. We have a cupcake, a castle and a shark (the blanket goes into the shark’s mouth, for example). Miles’s pillow was missing the blanket, which we knew when we bought it.  Penelope excitedly said, “Miles, you could store other things in there! Like baby carrots!” 

Two missing teeth - Penelope and Miles lost them within hours of each other

At church during the closing prayer, Henry kept hitting my arm over and over to get my attention, saying, "MomMomMomMom!" The man saying the prayer has a long beard, and it was even longer that day - he hadn't trimmed it in awhile. I finally whispered, "What?!" and Henry said, “Mom, mom, mom! It’s Jesus!” He was so excited! 

We took Henry's pacifier away cold turkey, after the dentist at Penelope's appointment asked to see his teeth (he had a pacifier in his mouth during her appointment). His top and bottom teeth don't touch... and that was all I needed to hear to get serious about taking it away. The first night we let him stay up really late to make sure he was nice and tired. I told him he was a big boy now, and didn't need pacifiers. He cried for two hours saying over and over, "I'm not a big boy, I'm a baby! I'm not a big boy! I'm a baby!" It was the saddest little chant ever! I had kept one pacifier in reserve and I wish I hadn't, because I kept thinking about giving it to him, but we held strong. The next day he asked for it again and we tried a different angle - other babies needed his pacifiers and he was helping them by giving them away. He said, "Like baby polar bears?" Um, sure kiddo. He didn't cry that night, but crashed on the couch while we watched TV. The next day he asked again - "Mom, where are my pacifiers?" I told him the other babies needed them and they were gone. He said, "Oh, like baby alligators?" I think there is a children's book idea in there somewhere... can't you just picture cute little baby polar bears sucking on pacifiers!

He's thinking, "Mom, you're gonna kill these plants"

I asked Henry if he was hungry, and what would he like to eat? Henry said, “Tomatoes." Who is this kid?

Penelope to Miles, “STOP mim-itading me!" That's a two for one word, I like it.

Penelope couldn’t find the bucket out in the backyard that we use to fill up water for Oogway, our desert tortoise. She went out by the tortoise habitat and she came back inside the house and said, “Mom, it’s N-O-T there!” 

13th Anniversary and Disneyland

Lucky #13 for us and we decided to celebrate at Disneyland this year. Going without kids is such a different experience - we covered way more ground and rode all the rides we wanted to go on multiple times. Of course we had to eat at Cafe Orleans and we ate way too much good food, but hey, we walked like 12-13 miles a day!

I remember when we were first married, my friend Valerie gave us a wooden sign that said "Hillers - Established 2005" and it seemed like we were just playing at marriage. How long would it take until that established by date seemed solid and real. Well, I think we are definitely to that point - 13 years and 4 kids later, we still love and like each other. Happy anniversary to us!

Soccer Wrap Up

After a year hiatus, we were back in soccer again! Penelope said she wanted to play, but she was too nervous to take the field at practice and after three tries, we decided to wait for another season.

Claire and Miles both enjoyed their teams and improved this year - though I think a lot of that was from actually getting to practice with their dad at the park and getting one on one attention.

Miles was a striker this year and Claire was a defender, so she didn't get many chances to score. Miles scored often and was voted MVP of his team. He even scored from mid-field: after a weak kick off by the other team he ran in and booted the ball, taking everyone by surprise especially the goalie. The ball rolled right through his legs! It was a great season!

Penelope's Birthday Party

Penelope wanted a unicorn birthday this year! Throwing elaborate birthday parties just isn't my thing, much to my children's dismay. But we always do a fun family party and Betty brings fun games and prizes for the kids. She even found a pin the tail on the unicorn game :)

Penelope's 6th Birthday Questionnaire

What is your favorite color? Pink

What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries

What is your favorite dessert? Strawberry sundae

What is your favorite stuffed animal? Unicorn

What is your favorite TV show? Adventure Time

What is your favorite subject in school? Art

What is your favorite food? French fries

What is your favorite drink? Root beer

If you could change your name, what would it be? Pink-a-Smell

What is your favorite season? Fall

What do you want to be when you grow up? A police officer

Who are your best friends? Arianna, Beckham and Brooklyn

What is your favorite book? Pinkalicious

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What do you like to take to bed at night? Stuffed Spiderman and soft, pink blanket

What is your favorite thing we did this year? Go to Cedar City to see our family

What is your favorite animal? Cat